Almaden Quicksilver Loop Dayhike (02.25.2012)

Starting up the Hacienda Trail. I like to do the loop in this direction - climbs up right away so there is no easing into it.

Church and Mine Hills from the Hacienda Trail

Mt Umunum (the Cube) to the left, Silicon Valley sprawl to the right (here I am, stuck in the middle with you...)

Mt Hamilton in the hazy distance.

Loma Prieta Peak in the distance - high point of the Santa Cruz mountains. I still need to climb that one. It's not within park land so it's difficult access due to overzealous land owners (even when on land they don't own).

First major junction. I'll continue up.

Cool gnarly root tree.

Approaching the old English Camp. This used to be a large town. The mines in this park operated from the mid-1800s all the way up to the 1970s. They supplied the mercury needed to process the gold ore that was being extracted during the California Gold Rush, and it was the most profitable mine in CA. There were several settlements throughout the area, English Camp being one of them.